Wednesday, June 2, 2010

This weekend marked the beginning of summer... and in New York City the official exodus of New Yorkers out to the Hamptons! And while I love having such a beautiful vacation-land so close to home.... in my world this weekend also marked the beginning of wedding season in the Hamptons!

The Hamptons offer New York couples the ability to have a true 'destination wedding' while still being extremely close to home. There are beautiful beaches, quaint churches, acres of farm land, vineyards and don't forget the magnificent mansions all available for rent for your special day! (or week if you want to really make it luxurious!) There are also a bevy of private yachts, yacht clubs, dance clubs and charming bed and breakfasts to choose from as well. Each has its own allure and offers your guests a different glimpse into the often talked about Hamptons experience!There are so many great reasons to choose to have your destination wedding in the Hamptons.· It makes for a great mini vacation weekend for your friends and family.· There are great pre and post wedding activities to keep your guests busy. Shopping, Wine Tastings, Antique Shops, Biking, Water Sports....the list goes on and on!· And when it comes to your wedding design concept, there are a ton to use as inspiration! From beachy, to shabby chic, to nautical, to rustic barn, the options go on and on!But before you set your sites on getting married out there -there are some things to strongly consider.· Traffic. When you try and take thousands of people in cars from a 4 lane highway gradually down to a 1 lane country what you get is TRAFFIC...a lot of traffic. As new yorkers we may be used to this concept but many of your guests will not be. So it’s really important to prep them. Make sure that you mention the length of time it may take to get out to the Hamptons on a Saturday morning (if they are not planning on staying out there the night before) Nothing makes for a grumpy guest quite like the panic they feel when they see they are going to be late for the ceremony or even worse miss it all together because they didn’t plan enough time for travel.· Accommodations. The Hamptons is certainly not known for being “budget friendly”. So what you may think is an “affordable” option for a hotel or B&B night stay – your guests may think is a portion of their life savings. You need to know your guests and try and set their expectations or plan accordingly to make sure that everyone feels they have an option.· Heat. You may have been dreaming about your beach wedding for months now, but make sure you consider your guests. East Coast beaches aren’t exactly like the palm tree lined beaches of the Caribbean. Rarely is there any type of coverage or shelter from the sun. So make sure that you provide sun & sand comforts in advance for your guests such as parasols, hand fans, ice water and even a shoe valet so guests don’t have to walk in the sand with their shoes!· Transportation. While most of your guests will be driving and will have their car to get out to the Hampton (taking the train or the Jitney is also a great and convenient way to get out to there) Most party hosts worry about “getting” their guests to their event but not “leaving”. The Hamptons can be very dark and desolate at night. Lots of small winding country roads. Not the kind of place you want any of your guests driving after having partaken in your very generous open bar! The police in Suffolk County take drunk driving very seriously! So you may want to consider a bus or car service for the end of the night to help get your guests home safely.· And last but not at all least...Noise. The biggest issue when planning a wedding in the Hamptons. While music is obviously an integral part of an amazing party, the Hampton’s are primarily residential areas. A lot of flat land and large open masses of water equals noise traveling FAR! It’s pretty amazing just how far the sound of amplified music and people having fun carries, and thus The Hamptons have instilled Noise Ordinances that are strictly adhered to. Most areas require that you substantially lower or completely shut off any amplified music by 9:30-10pm. And for most people who want to have a sunset ceremony and a late Saturday evening reception, 10pm is EARLY to be slowing the party down! And trust me, from years of experience, there’s nothing more stressful to a bride or groom than to have to deal with the police on the night of their wedding to discuss shutting the party down! Unfortunately there aren’t many ways to get around this other than to plan an early event that can wind down around that 10pm hour. One of the ways I have found to ‘pre empt’ the call from your neighbors to the police is to send a note in advance. Whenever we rent a home for our clients we usually send a hand written note (with a bottle of wine or champagne) to all of the neighbors explaining that we are having a celebration on this particular date and that while we will try and be mindful of the noise we produce, that they also please understand that this is a once in a life celebration. Inviting them to stop by for a drink and a dance is also a generous way of enticing them to celebrate with you instead of complaining about you.

All in all, the Hampton’s is an amazing place to throw an unforgettable “Destination Wedding” weekend. But like any other even, planning the details for the pit falls ahead of time is what ensures a flawless event that was enjoyed by all!

About Swank

Voted “Best of the Best” Event Planner in NYC by The Knot Magazine and the Preferred Event Design Company of many of New York’s finest locations and most unique venues, Swank has become New York's Hottest Wedding Planning & Event Design Firm Specializing in high-end design and expert coordination. We've produced large and small-scale events for some of the top brands and personalities in New York City and around the world.